Anatomy of a photo: Gun Check, Gent-Wevelgem 1965

See, I told you they were huge.

The above photo was liberated from a Dutch website which appears to be dedicated solely to a book about Dutch and Belgian riders both old and new. I can’t read a lick of Dutch, in fact, I’m not even 100-% sure it’s a Dutch site (based on the “.nl” though I’m pretty sure). The website is rad though and the book looks mint, anybody know it? Check it out and see what you think. The guy in the back of the gruppetto is, of course, Rik Van Looy.

Marko

Marko lives and rides in the upper midwest of the States, Minnesota specifically. "Cycling territory" and "the midwest" don't usually end up in the same sentence unless the conversation turns to the roots of LeMond, Hampsten, Heiden and Ochowitz. While the pavé and bergs of Flanders are his preferred places to ride, you can usually find him harvesting gravel along forest and farm roads. He owes a lot to Cycling and his greatest contribution to cycling may forever be coining the term Rainbow Turd.

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View Comments

eightzero says:

Mar 20 2011 at 5:23 pm

Size matters.
RedRanger says:

Mar 20 2011 at 5:33 pm

Looks like the guy in the back has lost his head.
Collin says:

Mar 20 2011 at 5:41 pm

They're all gorillas like Andre Greipel. I'd be terrified if I saw such a group riding down the road.
michael says:

Mar 20 2011 at 6:39 pm

It may be Dutch, but I'm guessing it's in Holland or the Netherlands
Marko says:

Mar 20 2011 at 7:49 pm

@michael

Wouldn't that make it Hollish or Netherlandsian?
Mike says:

Mar 20 2011 at 8:01 pm

Amazing photo. Van Looy's expression is priceless. With Google Translate, I tried to figure out a way to order the 2009 edition, but it doesn't look like they ship internationally... Gotta learn Netherlandiansianese.
Jellybean says:

Mar 20 2011 at 8:11 pm

i love the sponsorship from ford
CJ says:

Mar 20 2011 at 8:12 pm

This photo is so awesomely confusing.
Apart from the fact that I initially thought the Ford rider was Bruce Springsteen, I'm most baffled by Rik II smiling. I'd be very, very suspicious were I the other two.
Jeff in PetroMetro says:

Mar 20 2011 at 8:15 pm

@Marko
Or Hollerland?

Don't piss Frank off. He might take away my VSP points. Oh, wait. I don't have any to take away.

Yep, it's definitely Hollerland. Damn Hollerlanders.
Jeff in PetroMetro says:

Mar 20 2011 at 8:50 pm

Rik van Looy is in the back. Willy Vannitsen is the Ford with the gunrack. Thuur De Cabooter is the one listening to van Looy go on and on about the Vannitsen Gun Show.

Sure don't look like the Brothers Grimpeur.